Systems and methods for additive manufacturing of a golf club
A process manufacturing a golf club head includes the steps of forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a body of the golf club head by printing, layer by layer, a boundary that encloses a volume and is formed by at least one layer, and sintering the body to form a solid material within the volume.
1. A process of manufacturing a golf club head, comprising the steps of:
forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a body of the golf club head by:
creating a cavity arranged within the body;
printing a plug within the cavity that is separated from internal surfaces defined by the cavity;
removing excess material within the cavity;
moving the plug to a desired location within the cavity; and
filling the cavity with a filler material.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises a resin or a plastic material.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises a foam material.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein moving the plug to the desired location within the cavity comprises:
moving the plug in at least one of a heel-toe direction, a sole-top line direction and an oblique direction.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein moving the plug to the desired location within the cavity comprises:
moving the plug between a front face and a rear face defined by the body.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein moving the plug to the desired location within the cavity comprises:
altering a weight distribution defined by the body.
7. A process of manufacturing a golf club head, comprising the steps of:
forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a body of the golf club head by:
creating a cavity arranged within the body;
printing a plug within the cavity that is separated from internal surfaces defined by the cavity;
removing excess material within the cavity; and
manipulating a position of the plug to alter a weight distribution within a portion of the golf club head.
8. The process of claim 7 , wherein a volume is formed within the cavity arranged between a topline and a sole defined by the body.
9. The process of claim 7 , further comprising:
arranging the body on a sintering support including a face surface and a hosel surface.
10. The process of claim 7 , further comprising:
sintering the body to form a solid material within the volume.
11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the sintering includes a binder material selectively added around solid portions of the golf club head to form a border surrounded by metal powder.
12. The process of claim 7 , wherein the portion of the golf club head includes at least two ports that are fluidly connected to the cavity.
13. A process of manufacturing a golf club head, comprising the steps of:
forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a body of the golf club head by:
creating a cavity arranged within the body; printing a plug within the cavity that is separated from internal surfaces defined by the cavity;
removing excess material within the cavity;
moving the plug to a desired location within the cavity; and
securing the plug within the cavity.
14. The process of claim 13 , wherein one or more ports are in communication with the cavity to enable the removal of excess materials.
15. The process of claim 13 , wherein securing the plug within the cavity comprises:
moving the plug in at least one of a heel-toe direction, a sole-top line direction, and an oblique direction.
16. The process of claim 13 , wherein securing the plug within the cavity comprises:
filling the cavity with a filler material once the plug is positioned in a location with a desired weight distribution.
17. A process of manufacturing a golf club head, comprising the steps of:
forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a body of the golf club head by:
creating a cavity within the body;
forming a plug within the cavity that is separated from internal surfaces defined by the cavity;
moving the plug to a desired location within the cavity; and
securing the plug within the cavity.
18. The process of claim 17 further comprising the step of:
filling the cavity with a filler material.
19. The process of claim 17 , wherein securing the plug within the cavity comprises:
moving the plug in at least one of a heel-toe direction, a sole-top line direction and an oblique direction.
20. The process of claim 17 further comprising the step of:
sintering the body to form a solid material within the volume.